Tapered insulation
Insulation and cover board to improve drainage and efficiency.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Fanwood, NJ
A roofer in Fanwood can install, repair or replace a modified bitumen roof, the layered asphalt membrane often called torch-down, after checking the deck, the drainage and what is left of the old roof. Dial (908) 663-5020 to talk through modified bitumen with a local roofer.
Modified bitumen, often shortened to mod bit, is the modern descendant of the old tar and gravel roof, with polymers added so the asphalt stays flexible. The two main types are SBS, which is rubbery and flexible in cold weather, and APP, which is more plastic-like and is usually torched. The layers give it toughness, which is why it holds up well on roofs that see foot traffic.
There are several ways to put down mod bit, and each suits different buildings. Torch-applied sheets fuse tightly at the laps, though the open flame demands care around wood framing, insulation and roof edges. For homes and buildings where open flame is a concern, self-adhered or cold-process sheets are the usual answer.
Mod bit fails in predictable ways, which helps when you call. Note any blisters or bubbles, cracking in the cap sheet, bare spots where granules have washed off and laps that are lifting at the edges. Mention whether the roof has been coated or patched with roofing cement, since that changes how new material will stick.
Many modified bitumen roofing calls in Fanwood also turn up a need for flat roof replacement or flat roof repair.
Need modified bitumen roofing in Fanwood? Call (908) 663-5020 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
How a modified bitumen roof is installed
Each layer of a mod bit roof has its own job.
Inspect the roof
A core cut and a walk of the roof show how many layers exist and whether moisture is trapped. That decides between a tear-off and laying new plies over a sound, dry existing roof.
Tear off old roofing
On a tear-off, everything comes down to the deck and damaged plywood or planks are replaced. Insulation or a cover board is added, with tapered sections where water needs help reaching the drains.
Lay the base sheet
A smooth base sheet goes down first, fastened or adhered depending on the deck. Laps are offset so seams in the cap sheet do not land on seams below.
Apply the cap sheet
The top ply goes on with the chosen method, granules facing up for sun protection. Lap edges are checked for a continuous seal, and loose granules are pressed into any bleed-out.
Detail the edges
Walls, curbs and penetrations get reinforced flashing plies that run up and are capped with metal. Edge metal, drain flashing and pipe flashings complete the system.
Keep a fire watch
If any torching was done, the crew stays on watch after the flame goes off to make sure nothing is smoldering. A final walk checks laps, flashings and drainage.
What is included
What goes into a mod bit roof
Drain flashing
New edge metal and drain flashings so water leaves the roof where it should.
Cap sheet
A granulated cap sheet in white or a dark color to shield the asphalt from sun.
Base ply
A smooth reinforced base sheet laid with laps offset from the cap.
Base flashing
Flashing that runs up the wall and under metal so wall joints stay dry.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Fanwood, NJ
Repairing a torch-down roof usually means cutting out the bad section and fusing new modified bitumen over it. Blisters are cut open, dried, resealed and covered with a patch of new cap sheet that laps well beyond the cut. Fresh granules over the hot asphalt help protect the repair.
In Fanwood, many torch-down repairs sit close to wood framing, so fire safety is part of every job. Many roofers switch to self-adhered or cold-applied patches in tight spots where an open flame is a risk. After torching, a watch period for smoldering material is standard practice.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Fanwood, NJ
Built up roofing stacks three or more plies of felt and bitumen into a thick, heavy membrane, finished with a layer of gravel. Bare patches without gravel age quickly in the sun and are often where leaks begin. They are durable, but they show their age at the flashings and in blistered or bare areas.
Repairs on a built up roof in Fanwood usually involve scraping back the gravel, patching with felt and bitumen or modified bitumen, and replacing the gravel. Because these roofs are heavy, recovering over one can strain the structure, and many owners choose a tear-off when the time comes. The replacement is often a mod bit or single-ply roof that is lighter and easier to maintain.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
Around Fanwood, mod bit replaced a lot of old tar and gravel roofs years ago, and many of those are now due for work. Across Fanwood and nearby towns like Westfield, Plainfield, Watchung and Mountainside, older buildings may still have built-up roofs under a layer of mod bit, which is why the core cut matters, and the first step is finding out how many layers are already on the deck.
Searching for modified bitumen roofing near me from Fanwood or Westfield, Plainfield, Watchung and Mountainside? Call (908) 663-5020 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects roofs around Fanwood
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Fanwood, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Fanwood
Roofers in Fanwood know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about modified bitumen roofing
How does mod bit compare to tar and gravel?
The two are related, with key differences in material and installation. Built up roofing uses many plies of felt mopped with hot asphalt or coal tar and is topped with gravel, while modified bitumen uses fewer, thicker polymer-modified sheets with a granulated cap. Mod bit is often preferred today for its flexibility and lower weight.
Do I need a tear-off for a new mod bit roof?
The existing roof decides that. If there is a single, dry, sound roof, a recovery board and new mod bit may go over it. Two existing roofs, wet insulation or widespread blistering call for a full tear-off.
What is the lifespan of a torch-down roof?
A two-ply modified bitumen roof commonly lasts around 15 to 25 years. Good drainage, intact granules and sound flashings push it toward the long end. Coating an aging but sound roof can add years.
Are torch-applied roofs a fire risk?
Fire risk with torch-down comes from the flame during installation, not the finished roof. Experienced roofers avoid torching directly on wood decks or near combustible edges, fasten the base sheet over wood instead of torching it, and keep a fire watch after the work. Where flame is a concern, peel-and-stick sheets are a common alternative.
Can a mod bit roof be coated?
Coating an aging cap sheet is a common way to add years to a mod bit roof. Before coating, the roofer repairs blisters and laps and may use a bleed-blocking primer. White coatings reflect sun, which helps the asphalt last.
More questions? Call (908) 663-5020
Other services that may help
Flat Roof Replacement
Full replacement of failing flat roofs, with a moisture survey deciding tear-off or recover, and new flashing at every wall, curb and drain.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Fixing open seams, blisters, splits, ponding and failed flashing on flat and low slope roofs, so the roof sheds water again without a full replacement.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
TPO membrane roofs installed over new insulation or in place of a worn flat roof, sized to the deck, the drains and the way the roof is used.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Commercial roof replacement phased around tenants and business hours, from core cuts to closeout.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet modified bitumen roofing help in Fanwood
Call (908) 663-5020 for a local roofer in Fanwood and nearby towns.